Movie studio 20th Century Fox is ensuring that C.S. Lewis fans will get another taste of Narnia by stepping in as co-producer of the upcoming instalment of The Chronicles of Narnia films series.

In December, rival studio Disney withdrew as co-financier and co-producer of The Chronicles of Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader, slated to be the third film of the series and tentatively scheduled for release in 2010 — putting the planned film at risk.

With Fox now joining Walden Media to release the seafaring fantasy adventure, the production can move ahead, according to reports from Hollywood media.

According to trade newspaper Variety, the plan is still to release the approximately $140-million US film in 2010, with shooting expected to start later this year.

Acclaimed British director Michael Apted is still on board to helm the production, with young stars Georgie Henley, Skandar Keynes and Ben Barnes reprising their respective roles as Lucy Pevensie, Edmund Pevensie and King (formerly Prince) Caspian.

Originally published in 1952, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader sees central characters Lucy and Edmund return with a cousin to the magical Narnia to join their colleague Caspian for a grand naval quest.